Louver assembly for cooling towers



Jan. 7, 1964 T. MART ETAL 0 LOUVER ASSEMBLY FOR COOLING TOWERS Filed May 1, 1958 IN l/E N TORS United States Patent LQUVER ASSEMBLY FGR CQQLENG TGWERS Leon '5. Mart, iviission Township, Johnson County, K2BS.,

and Homer E. Fordyce, Gashland, Mo assignors to The Marley Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 1, 1958, Ser. No. 732,349 2 Claims. (Cl. 26124) This invention relates to structures for cooling water and has for its primary object the provision of a novel combination of elements formed and arranged to better adapt a water cooling tower for use in extreme cold weather conditions.

Considerable ditliculty is experienced in the use of conventional water cooling towers, particularly at the air inlets thereof because of the tendency of ice to collect in a manner to impede free flow of air thereinto. Such difiiculties result from splashing of water from the fill assembly to the air inlet louvers, the latter of which are normally small and relatively close together. Similarly, it is not uncommon for ice to collect between the louvers and virtually close the air inlet spaces therebetween.

It is the most important object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved air inlet unit for a water cooling tower that is strategically disposed with respect to the fill assembly so that an appreciable amount of the hot water gravitating through the latter, will drain onto the inlet louvers, thereby melting any ice tending to collect thereon and keeping the air inlet spaces between the louvers open for free flow of air therethrough and into the fill assembly to cool the hot gravitating water.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide air inlet louvers structure for water cooling towers that is composed of a stack of relatively wide louvers spaced an appreciable distance apart, whereby the same serve their intended function and at the same time tend to eliminate clogging with ice when considered in conjunction with the way in which hot water is employed as aforementioned.

Still another object of the present invention is to augment the melting of ice tending to collect on and between the inlet louvers through use of means such as a trough for conveying the hot water from the fill assembly to each of the louvers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide inlet louver structure that is arranged to discharge water from each louver respectively to the louver therebelow and thence ultimately to a cold water collection basin, the latter of which may be appreciably reduced in size due to the unique arrangement of the instant invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a water cooling tower, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction of the louver assembly of the pres- {ent invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, detailed, cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, crosssectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

The water cooling tower shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing and chosen for illustration of the improvements of the instant invention, operates on the conventional crosstlow principle wherein hot water gravitating through a pair of opposed fill assemblies 1%) is cooled by the action of air drawn therethrough by means of a single fan 12 located within an outlet ring 14 at the top of the tower. Hot water is fed into an open top distribution system 1-6 and after traversing the fill assemblies 1%, the cold water is collected by a basin l8 underlying the fills 1h.

Drift eliminators 24) are provided at the air outlet sides of each fill assembly 10, and except for the air inlet sides of the assemblies 19, the entire tower is closed by a suitable casing 22.

Water cooling towers of the above described character are conventionally provided with a louvered air inlet face to keep water in the confines of the tower and from splashing out of the air inlet opening. Such louver construction under normal conditions of use, presents dir'iiculties when operating under extreme Weather conditions such as sub-freezing temperatures.

Accordingly, pursuant to the concepts of the instant invention, the air inlet side or face of the fill assemblies 10 are each provided with a stack of relatively wide louvers 24 that are spaced apart a distance that is appreciahly greater than the spacing normally provided in conventional air inlet louver assemblies. Such wide spacing is made possible because of the Widths of the louvers 2 ithernselves, and as seen in FIG. 1 of the drawing, it is but necessary to completely cover the inlet face of the assemblies lii without overlapping of the louvers 24-.

It is to be noted in FIG. 1 of the drawing that the assemblies 149 recede inwardly at the air inlet face thereof as the basin 18 is approached, and therefore, the louvers 2.4 are arranged in an inclined stack disposed with a portion of the assembly ltl in overlying relationship thereto. Consequently, at least certain of the louvers 24 receives some of the hot water gravitating through the assembly ill, and all of the louvers 24- are disposed so as to be subjected to appreciably more splashing of such hot water.

It is to be understood at this juncture that collection of ice to such extent as to virtually close off the air inlet spaces between the louvers, has been the chief difficulty which the instant invention eliminates. Therefore, by permitting an appreciably large amount of the hot water to splash, as well as to fall directly upon the louvers 2 3, the ice problem is eliminated, particularly when considered in light of the size and spacing of louvers 24 as above described.

Additionally, and to further augment the melting of the ice tending to collect on louvers 24, there is provided means in the instant invention to pour additional amounts of hot water onto the louvers 2 Such hot water may be taken directly from the fill assemblies 10 and fed to the louvers 24 through the medium of a plurality of shallow, open top troughs 26 for each louver 24 respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing, the assemblies 1d are subdivided into a series of side-by-side sections or bays, each of which may, for example, be approximately 8 feet long and set off by vertical framework 28. Thus, it is suggested that there be provided a trough 2d between each pair of frames 28 for each louver 24 respectively and that such troughs traverse the assemblies 1d, extending thereinto as far as may be desired, but preferably terminating in a closed, innermost end 30. Troughs 26 may incline downwardly toward the louvers 24 if desired, and be provided with an open outlet end next adjacent the corresponding louver 24 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The troughs T 6 may rest on the splash bars of the fills 10, as well as upon the louvers 24 themselves, and should be formed from relatively thin material such as metal or plastic so that heat can be transmitted therethrough and prevent ice building upon the trough 26 itself.

It is noted that the louvers 24 are corrugated, and while such configuration is not essential, it can be seen that all of the water directed to the louvers 24, by splashing, by direct gravitation, and by the action of troughs 26, channels horizontally and longitudinally of the louvers 24 by virtue of the corrugations therein and, therefore, distributes evenly throughout the uppermost inclined surfaces thereof. Such water gravitating along the louvers 24 transversely thereof, falls by gravity from the lowermost longitumnal edges of the louvers 24 to the louvers therebclow, ultimately discharging into the basin 18. It can now be seen that this construction makes it possible to provide a basin is that is appreciably smaller those heretofore provided, and eliminates the need for water drainooards formerly required on certain towers to drain the water back into the filler area.

Finally, the improvements above described, reduce the loss of water by splash-out, and provide an over-all attractive tower appearance, particularly wiien the material for the louvers 24 is selected to blend properly with other portions of the tower exterior.

in any event, it is to be understood that the construction forming the subject matter of the instant invention, may be employed in virtually any type of tower and is not limited to the cross-flow principle above explained and embodied in the tower chosen for illustration in FIG. 1.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured my Letters Patent is:

l. A cross-flow water cooling tower comprising:

a generally upright casing having an upright air inlet in one side thereof and air outlet means spaced from said inlet;

generally horizontal hot water distribution means on said casing adjacent the upper portion thereof;

a cold water col ection basin positioned across the bottom of said casing;

splash type fill assembly means in said casing below said hot water distribution means between the air inlet and the air outlet means whereby water from the hot water distribution means gravitates onto and through the fill assembly means into said basin, said fill assembly means being provided with a relatively large number of superimposed, vertically spaced, horizontally disposed fill layers, the outer face of said fill assembly means in closest proximity to said air inlet generally receding from the vertical in a direction inwardly and downwardly toward the basin;

fan means on the casing for pulling air in through said inlet and for discharging the air through SlELlCl outlet means as the air is caused to move substantially horizontally across the fill assembly means by said fill layers; and

louver structure mounted on the casing independent of the fill assembly means in disposition inclined from the vertical and located across said inlet of the casing generally complemental, substantially parallel, proximal underlying relationship to said outer face of the fill assembly means for gravitation of hot water from the fill assembly means onto the louvers, said structure including an upright stack of partially vertically superimposed, generally horizontal, elongated, spaced, parallel, transversely inwardly inclined louvers spanning substantially the full width and height of said air inlet, each of the 'louvers of said stack thereof being positioned with the upper surfaces thereof in direct facing relationship to said outer face of the fill assembly means, and each disposed in horizontally offset relationship with respect to next adjacent louvers with the lower margin of each louver overlying a horizontal, transversely intermediate, longitudinally extending area of the louver next therebelow to effect discharge of water from the lower margin of each louver respectively to said horizontally extending intermediate area of the louver next therebelow and in spaced relationship to the lower margin of said next lower louver, the upright margins of the casing adjacent said outer face of the fill assembly means being inclined from he vertical at an tangle to conform with the general inclined configuration of said outer face of the fill assembly means and the stack of louvers, and said basin completely underlying the fill assembly with one end at l thereof located adjacent the lower horizontal margin of the lowermost louver of said stack, each pair of adjacent louvers of said stack being located in sufficient vertical spaced relationship to cause imaginary horizontal planes through the lower margins and upper margins respectively of said adjacent louvers to be located in vertically spaced relationship and each louver having a transverse width whose projected vertical height is substantially greater than the ellective vertical height of at least three of the horizontal fill layers of said fill assembly means whereby the louver stack contains splash and fines from said fill assembly means.

2. A cross-flow water cooling tower comprising:

a generally upright casing having an upright air inlet in one side thereof and air outlet means spaced from said air inlet;

generally horizontal hot water distribution means on said casing adjacent the upper portion thereof;

a cold water collection basin positioned across the bottom of said casing;

splash type fill assembly means in said casing below said hot water distribution means between the air inlet and the outlet means whereby water from the hot water distribution means gravitates onto and through the fill assembly means into said basin, said fill assembly means being provided with a relatively large number of superimposed, vertically spaced, horizontally disposed fill layers, the outer face of said fill assembly means in closest proximity to said air inlet generally receding from the vertical in a direction inwardly and downwardly toward the basin;

fan means on the casing for pulling air in through said inlet and for discharging the air through said outlet cans as the air is caused to move substantially horizontally across the fill assembly means by said fill layers.

louver structure mounted on the casing independent of the fill assembly means in disposition inclined from the vertical and located across said inlet of the casing in generally complemental, substantially parallel, proximal underlying relationship to said outer face of the fill assembly means for gravitation of hot water from Le fill assembly means onto the louvers, said structure including an upright stack of partially vertically superimposed, generally horizontal, elongated, spaced, parallel, transversely inwardly inclined louvers spanning substantially the full width and height of said air inlet, each of the louvers of said stack thereof being positioned with the upper surfaces thereof in direct facing relationship to said outer face of the fill assembly means, and each disposed in horizontally offset relationship with respect to next adjacent louvers with the lower margin of each louver overlying a horizontal, transversely intermediate, longitudinally extending area of the louver next therebelow to efifect discharge of water from the lower margin of each louver respectively to said horizontally extending intermediate area of the louver next therebelow and in spaced relationship to the lower iargin of said next lower louver, the upright margins of the casing adjacent said outer face of the fill assembly means being inclined from the vertical at an angle to conform with the general inclined configuration of said outer face of the fill assembly means and the stack of louvers, and said basin completely underlying the fill assembly with one end wall thereof located adjacent the lower horizontal margin of the t owermost louver of said stack, each pair of adjacent louvers of said stack being located in willcient vertical spaced relationship to cause imaginary horizontal planes through the lower margins and upper margins respectively of said adjacent louvers to be located in vertically spaced relationship, each louver having a transverse width Whose projected vertical height is substantially greater than the eficctive vertical height of at least three of the horizontal fill layers of said fill assembly means whereby the louver stack contains splash and fines from said fill assembly means; and

trough means for each of the louvers, said trough means extending from a position beneath a portion of said fill assembly means to a location in overlying relationship to a corresponding louver for directing an additional supply of hot water from the fill assembly means onto a respective louver to help prevent accumulation of ice on said louvers, each of said trough means being narrower than the Width of a respective louver longitudinally thereof and inclined downwardly from the fill toward 'a corresponding louver to effect flow of water from the fill assembly means to said louvers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 850,985 Vollman Apr. 23, 1907 6 Hart May 29, Nordberg Dec. 10, Uhde June 218, Lewis Oct. 14, Kranz Oct. 28, Harry Apr. 26, Mart Oct. 3, Pabodie Nov. 30, Green June 20, Fordyce Jan. 1, Kalthotf Feb. 5, Mart Dec. 9, Mart Feb. 3, Baker et a1 June 30,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 3, 

2. A CROSS-FLOW WATER COOLING TOWER COMPRISING: A GENERALLY UPRIGHT CASING HAVING AN UPRIGHT AIR INLET IN ONE SIDE THEREOF AND AIR OUTLET MEANS SPACED FROM SAID AIR INLET; GENERALLY HORIZONTAL HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION MEANS ON SAID CASING ADJACENT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF; A COLD WATER COLLECTION BASIN POSITIONED ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF SAID CASING; SPLASH TYPE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS IN SAID CASING BELOW SAID HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION MEANS BETWEEN THE AIR INLET AND THE AIR OUTLET MEANS WHEREBY WATER FROM THE HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION MEANS GRAVITATES ONTO AND THROUGH THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS INTO SAID BASIN, SAID FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH A RELATIVELY LARGE NUMBER OF SUPERIMPOSED, VERTICALLY SPACED, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FILL LAYERS, THE OUTER FACE OF SAID FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO SAID AIR INLET GENERALLY RECEDING FROM THE VERTICAL IN A DIRECTION INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THE BASIN; FAN MEANS ON THE CASING FOR PULLING AIR IN THROUGH SAID INLET AND FOR DISCHARGING THE AIR THROUGH SAID OUTLET MEANS AS THE AIR IS CAUSED TO MOVE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS BY SAID FILL LAYERS. LOUVER STRUCTURE MOUNTED ON THE CASING INDEPENDENT OF THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS IN DISPOSITION INCLINED FROM THE VERTICAL AND LOCATED ACROSS SAID INLET OF THE CASING IN GENERALLY COMPLEMENTAL, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, PROXIMAL UNDERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID OUTER FACE OF THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS FOR GRAVITATION FOR HOT WATER FROM THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS ONTO THE LOUVERS, SAID STRUCTURE INCLUDING AN UPRIGHT STACK OF PARTIALLY VERTICALLY SUPERIMPOSED, GENERALLY HORIZONTAL, ELONGATED, SPACED, PARALLEL, TRANSVERSELY INWARDLY INCLINED LOUVERS SPANNING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL WIDTH AND HEIGHT OF SAID AIR INLET, EACH OF THE LOUVERS OF SAID STACK THEREOF BEING POSITIONED WITH THE UPPER SURFACES THEREOF IN DIRECT FACING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID OUTER FACE OF THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS, AND EACH DISPOSED IN HORIZONTALLY OFFSET RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO NEXT ADJACENT LOUVERS WITH THE LOWER MARGIN OF EACH LOUVER OVERLYING A HORIZONTAL, TRANSVERSELY INTERMEDIATE, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AREA OF THE LOUVER NEXT THEREBELOW TO EFFECT DISCHARGE OF WATER FROM THE LOWER MARGIN OF EACH LOUVER RESPECTIVELY TO SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING INTERMEDIATE AREA OF THE LOUVER NEXT THEREBELOW AND IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE LOWER MARGIN OF SAID NEXT LOUVER, THE UPRIGHT MARGINS OF THE CASING ADJACENT SAID OUTER FACE OF THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS BEING INCLINED FROM THE VERTICAL AT AN ANGLE TO CONFORM WITH THE GENERAL INCLINED CONFIGURATION OF SAID OUTER FACE OF THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS AND THE STACK OF LOUVERS, AND SAID BASIN COMPLETELY UNDERLYING THE FILL ASSEMBLY WITH ONE END WALL THEREOF LOCATED ADJACENT THE LOWER HORIZONTAL MARGIN OF THE OWERMOST LOUVER OF SAID STACK, EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT LOUVERS OF SAID STACK BEING LO CATED IN SUFFICIENT VERTICAL SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO CAUSE IMAGINARY HORIZONTAL PLANES THROUGH THE LOWER MARGINS AND UPPER MARGINS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID ADJACENT LOUVERS TO BE LOCATED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP, EACH LOUVER HAVING A TRANSVERSE WIDTH WHOSE PROJECTED VERTICAL HEIGHT IS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE EFFECTIVE VERTICAL HEIGHT OF AT LEAST THREE OF THE HORIZONTAL FILL LAYERS OF SAID FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS WHEREBY THE LOUVER STACK CONTAINS SPLASH AND FINES FROM SAID FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS; AND TROUGH MEANS FOR EACH OF THE LOUVERS, SAID TROUGH MEANS EXTENDING FROM A POSITION BENEATH A PORTION OF SAID FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS TO A LOCATION IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO A CORRESPONDING LOUVER FOR DIRECTING AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF HOT WATER FROM THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS ONTO A RESPECTIVE LOUVER TO HELP PREVENT ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON SAID LOUVERS, EACH OF SAID TROUGH MEANS BEING NARROWER THAN THE WIDTH F A RESPECTIVE LOUVER LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND INCLINED DOWNWARDLY FROM THE FILL TOWARD A CORRESPONDING LOUVER TO EFFECT FLOW OF WATER FROM THE FILL ASSEMBLY MEANS TO SAID LOUVERS. 